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BSA Groups and Committees

A distinctive element of the membership of the BSA is that it has a wide and collaborative membership approach. This encompasses academic, researchers and the community from the clinical world of Audiology and members of the public in advancing the knowledge, learning, practice and impact in hearing and balance. We will encourage a number of new and existing ways of achieving this, including greater opportunities for networking. We will explore joint working across the Special Interest Groups with external agencies and each other at events throughout the year.

A key role of the society is to enhance opportunities for inter-disciplinary networking to maximise the potential of collaboration from clinical and academic colleagues; and to provide a variety of opportunities to bring the range of multi-disciplines together, to include those from other disciplines, for example in Genetics and Dementia.

The Special Interest Groups:

Paediatric Audiology Interest Group

Auditory Processing Disorder Special Interest Group

Adult Rehabilitation Interest Group

Cognition in Hearing Special Interest Group

Electrophysiology Special Interest Group

Balance Interest Group

Global Outreach Special Interest Group

Tinnitus & Hyperacusis Special Interest Group

Each SIG runs through a steering group to deliver its aims. Each steering group consists of between 5 – 10 BSA members depending upon the needs of the SIG. One of these members is an elected chair who is also an advisor to the BSA Council. All members of the SIG must be members of the BSA and will typically be selected for their knowledge and expertise in their particular field which relates to the area of interest.

The steering group will normally meet three to four times per year and meetings may be virtual, face to face or a mixture of these options.

In addition some SIGs also have a reference group, which consists of BSA members who do not come to all SIG meetings but are involved in specific projects or ask for ideas, for example of sessions for the annual conference when the SIG feel they need further support.

SIGs will advertise any vacancies they have through the BSA e-Update, but members can also contact the main office to register their interest in joining a group and this will be kept on file until a vacancy becomes available. If more than applicants apply than there are spaces the members of a SIG will vote on applicants and membership, where possible should reflect the multi-disciplinary nature of Audiology and represent all four countries of the UK.

In addition to the Special Interest Groups, we run a number of groups to progress work under our strategic plan.

The Publicity Group

Renewal and modernisation of all BSA’s communications and publicity is central to all aspects of the work of the society. The messages and proposals of the BSA need to be clear and consistent across all staff and volunteers to maximise opportunities.

Underpinning this work is fully defining ‘unique selling points’ of the British Society of Audiology so members and stakeholders understand what the BSA does and where it fits alongside other organisations.

The Publicity Committee are responsible for clear messages to be given through a range of media and opportunities about the work of the BSA and for this communication to be a dynamic and two way pathway between members, the BSA Council and other stakeholders. They will ensure the role and purpose of the BSA is understood by the members and stakeholders and is modern, vibrant and engaging.

Their work includes:

Website

Social Media

Audacity Magazine

Engagement with other organisations

Engagement with the public

Media publicity (radio, television)

Renewal and modernisation of all BSA’s communications including the branding of BSA documents, i.e. resources, leaflets, posters

Developing the ‘unique selling points’ of the British Society of Audiology

Encouraging and keeping membership

Justgiving opportunities

The Learning Events Group (LEG), formerly Programmes Committee:

A key role of the BSA is to enhance opportunities for inter-disciplinary networking and learning to maximise the potential of collaboration from clinical and academic colleagues.

The Learning & Events Group (LEG) are responsible for coordinating a full range of learning opportunities through both virtual and face to face opportunities across the UK through the year.

The LEG will:

Produce and monitor an annual programme of events

Ensure events are viable and cost effective

Support and advise event organisers in matters pertaining to events

Produce and review guidelines for event organisers

Facilitate inter-professional learning within the Society and with other relevant professional bodies

Encourage networking and support learning opportunities within the Society and across organisations involving healthcare professions, research organisations, the commercial sector, the third sector, policymakers, commissioners, and patients

Engage with the BSA membership to establish their learning requirements

facilitates inter-professional learning within the Society and with other relevant professional bodies.

encourages networking and support learning opportunities within the Society and across organisations involving healthcare professions, research organisations, the commercial sector, the third sector, policymakers, commissioners, and patients.

engages with the BSA membership to establish their learning requirements.

The Professional Guidance Group (PGG) formerly the Professional Practice Committee (PPC):

The PGG aims to promote high standards of professional practice in audiology, with particular focus on cross- and multi-disciplinary issues, through:

2. Working in partnership with other groups interested in promoting good practice and with other stakeholders

The PGG is responsible for Recommended Procedures and Clinical Guidance, an area where BSA has an international reputation. A key development will be NICE accreditation of these documents. This will enhance the quality, status, and consistency across all of our documents. It will also raise the profile of BSA and Audiology with links from NICE/NHS Evidence websites. This is a huge undertaking for BSA and the Professional Guidance Group in terms of effort and resources.

The Research Fund Steering Committee (ReFSCo):

In August 2007, in response to a questionnaire, BSA members indicated that they had considerable interest in being trained and participating in research. On the 14th September 2007 at the 40th AGM of the BSA at Aston University, Birmingham it was agreed that an annual sum of £10,000 would be made available for research projects involving BSA members.

*The maximum grant that can be awarded was raised to £5000 in 2012.

The BSA Research Fund Steering Committee (RFSCo) has been formed to take this manage this process. The RFSCo oversees the awarding and progress of grants funded by this scheme. The grant is named the “BSA Applied Research Grant”. For further information please click here http://www.thebsa.org.uk/bsa-applied-research-grant/